Mithali 30
1 Misemo ya Aguri mwana wa Yake, usia: Huyu mtu alimwambia Ithieli, naam, kwa Ithieli na kwa Ukali:
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 “Mimi ni mjinga kuliko wanadamu wote; sina ufahamu wa kibinadamu.
“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and do not have a man’s understanding.
3 Sijajifunza hekima, wala sina maarifa ya kumjua yeye Aliye Mtakatifu.
I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Ni nani ameshapanda mbinguni na kushuka? Ni nani ameshakusanya upepo kwenye vitanga vya mikono yake? Ni nani ameshafungia maji kwenye nguo yake? Ni nani ameimarisha miisho yote ya dunia? Jina lake ni nani, na mwanawe anaitwa nani? Niambie kama unajua!
Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
5 “Kila neno la Mungu ni kamilifu; yeye ni ngao kwa wale wanaomkimbilia.
“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Usiongeze kwenye maneno yake, ama atakukemea na kukuthibitisha kuwa mwongo.
Do not you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 “Ninakuomba vitu viwili, Ee Bwana; usininyime kabla sijafa:
“Two things I have asked of you. Do not deny me before I die.
8 Uutenge mbali nami udanganyifu na uongo; usinipe umaskini wala utajiri, bali unipe chakula cha kunitosha kila siku.
Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 Nisije nikawa na vingi vya kuzidi nikakukana na kusema, ‘Bwana ni nani?’ Au nisije nikawa maskini nikaiba, nami nikaliaibisha jina la Mungu wangu.
lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 “Usimchongee mtumishi kwa bwana wake, asije akakulaani, ukapatilizwa kwalo.
“Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 “Wako watu wale ambao huwalaani baba zao na wala hawawabariki mama zao;
There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
12 wale ambao ni safi machoni pao wenyewe kumbe hawakuoshwa uchafu wao;
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 wale ambao daima macho yao ni ya kiburi, ambao kutazama kwao ni kwa dharau;
There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
14 wale ambao meno yao ni panga na ambao mataya yao yamewekwa visu kuwaangamiza maskini katika nchi, na wahitaji kutoka miongoni mwa wanadamu.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 “Mruba anao binti wawili waliao, ‘Nipe! Nipe!’ “Kuna vitu vitatu visivyotosheka kamwe, naam, viko vinne visivyosema, ‘Yatosha!’:
“The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that do not say, ‘Enough!’:
16 Ni kaburi, tumbo lisilozaa, nchi isiyoshiba maji kamwe, na moto, usiosema kamwe, ‘Yatosha!’ (Sheol h7585)
Sheol (Sheol h7585), the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that does not say, 'Enough!'
17 “Jicho lile limdhihakilo baba, lile linalodharau kumtii mama, litangʼolewa na kunguru wa bondeni, litaliwa na tai.
“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
18 “Kuna vitu vitatu vinavyonishangaza sana, naam, vinne nisivyovielewa:
“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I do not understand:
19 Ni mwendo wa tai katika anga, mwendo wa nyoka juu ya mwamba, mwendo wa meli katika maji makuu ya bahari, nao mwendo wa mtu pamoja na msichana.
The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 “Huu ndio mwendo wa mwanamke mzinzi, hula akapangusa kinywa chake na kusema, ‘Sikufanya chochote kibaya.’
“So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 “Kwa mambo matatu nchi hutetemeka, naam, kwa mambo manne haiwezi kuvumilia:
“For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it cannot bear up:
22 Mtumwa awapo mfalme, mpumbavu ashibapo chakula,
For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,
23 mwanamke asiyependwa aolewapo, naye mtumishi wa kike achukuapo nafasi ya bibi yake.
for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
24 “Vitu vinne duniani vilivyo vidogo, lakini vina akili nyingi sana:
“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25 Mchwa ni viumbe wenye nguvu ndogo, hata hivyo hujiwekea akiba ya chakula chao wakati wa kiangazi.
The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
26 Pelele ni viumbe vyenye uwezo mdogo hata hivyo hujitengenezea nyumba zao kwenye miamba.
The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
27 Nzige hawana mfalme, hata hivyo huenda pamoja vikosi vikosi.
The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
28 Mjusi anaweza kushikwa kwa mkono, hata hivyo huonekana katika majumba ya kifalme.
You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 “Viko vitu vitatu ambavyo vinapendeza katika mwendo wao, naam, vinne ambavyo hutembea kwa mwendo wa madaha:
“There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
30 simba, mwenye nguvu miongoni mwa wanyama, asiyerudi nyuma kwa chochote;
The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and does not turn away for any;
31 jogoo atembeaye kwa maringo, pia beberu, naye mfalme pamoja na jeshi lake lililomzunguka.
the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
32 “Ikiwa umefanya upumbavu na ukajitukuza mwenyewe, au kama umepanga mabaya, basi funika mdomo wako na mkono wako.
“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33 Kwa maana kama vile kusukasuka maziwa hutoa siagi, na pia kule kufinya pua hutoa damu, kadhalika kuchochea hasira hutokeza ugomvi.”
For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”
